SCOTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR 2008

MAY TAGGART

She has been a foster mother for the past 37 years and during that time, more than 150 youngsters have called her mum.

Her own two children are long since grown up but there were always new brothers and sisters coming and going during their childhoods.

And at 62, this great-gran is still welcoming foster children into her home in Thornliebank and providing the stability and guidance that is so often missing in their young lives.

It also takes a lot more than just a warm heart to cope with some of the damaged children she looks after and she has needed a lot of skill, patience and wisdom to heal their wounds.

It's thanks to May's determination that her adopted son, Jamie, now 18, who came to them when he was four because his family couldn't cope with his disability, is now able to walk unaided.

Jamie suffers from cerebral palsy, caused by a brain injury at birth, and May and her husband, Gerry, 48, raised the thousands needed to take him to Florida to swim with dolphins.

The therapy made a huge difference to his condition and he can now walk.

May also finds the time to help run the family's cafe, Jamie T's Coffee Shop in Clarkston, named after Jamie.

"Our older children say it's time you retired, mum, but it's a way of life to us," says May.

VERONICA RODDEN

Her work as a volunteer has changed many lives for the better and she was made an MBE in 2002.

But Ronnie's efforts went largely unrecognised outside the community... until the TV programme, The Secret Millionaire, came to town and brought her dedication to the attention of millions.

When multi-millionaire Nick Leslau traded his £15million Mayfair mansion for a tenement in Hawthorn Street, Ronnie, 65, had him cleaning the loos.

But he was so moved by the work she does that he gave her a cheque for £225,000, which will help build a new £1.3m centre.

The funds will be used to build a bigger, better centre for the disabled and buy a new bus for its members.

Mum-of-seven Ronnie is chairwoman of The Disability Community facility in Closeburn Street. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1980, but continued campaigning and saw the centre opened in 1990. Its facilities and cafe are used by 150 members a week.

Its Cook'n'Care Service delivers free hot meals to a further 70 housebound locals every day and it hosts regular activities for 65 young members of its Out and About project.

Ronnie is also on the board of the local housing association, health board, regeneration agency and community planning authority, as well as being a JP.

MARY MILLER

But heedless of their own safety, Mary Miler and her husband, the Very Rev.

Dr John Miller, former Church of Scotland Moderator and retired minister of Castlemilk East Church, are doing just that.

Since they went to Zimbabwe some 15 months ago, the situation has steadily worsened, with food shortages at crisis point, but they have been determined to stay on.

As a trained medical social worker and child therapist, Mary is working with children with HIV/Aids at a hospital in Murabinda.

But back home, thousands of children and their parents in Castlemilk also owe a debt of gratitude to Mary Miller.

Long after Mary is gone, the Jeely Piece Club in Castlemilk will stand testament to how much she has done for the community.

Thirty five years ago, when her first child was a baby, she founded what is now the Jeely Piece Club, which caters for between 400 and 500 children, young people and adults a week.

One of her most important legacies will be the number of youngsters who have been influenced by the Jeely to keep away from drink and drugs.

Mary was the club's director for years and Grace Lamont, who now runs it, says it was Mary's guidance which developed the facility that has made such a difference.

MARY McLACHLAN

The 2007 report from HM Inspectorate of Education for the Knightswood school had been the city's worst ever.

Standards in the 3Rs at the 215 pupil school were depressingly low.

Management systems had broken down and parents and teachers were in despair.

The children were rude and aggressive to the teachers and each other and classroom indiscipline was rife.

From day one, Mary, 50, a mother of three who lives in Bishopbriggs, had her work cut out but she faced the job head on.

"I hit the ground running and I have never stopped," she says.

"I remember speaking to the staff that first day and saying we have an enormous task, but we'll do it as a team."

Mary's reward came this month with a gold star from the inspectors and a glowing report praising behaviour, attendance and educational standards.

There is zero tolerance on bullying and morale is sky high.

"It is such a happy place now," says Mary.

"The inspectors couldn't believe it."

And importantly the teachers, inspired by Mary's new regime, are full of self-confidence too.

JEAN DONNACHIE AND NOREEN REAL

The story of how the two grans, known affectionately as Auntie Jean and Auntie Noreen, took on the might of the Home Office and stopped the dawn raids on their asylum seeker neighbours is to be filmed by Ken Loach's company, Sixteen Films.

It will tell how two ordinary women, horrified at witnessing terrified men, women and children being hauled out of their beds and carted off to jail, decided they to do something about it.

"We both hate injustice," says Noreen, 59, a mother of five and grandmother of eight, indignantly.

"It was like the Gestapo. They came in here in their riot gear with a thing for putting the door in."

Jean, 67, a mother of four sons, and a grandmother of two, points out they were asked to make the newcomers welcome in the community.

"We've taken them in, and with the next breath you come with a battering ram and leave us to explain why."

For months, they organised 5.30am patrols and a warning system to prevent raids.

They held candlelit vigils, linking arms and singing We shall not be moved.

And they won their fight to stop the raids.

Jean and Noreen are on the management committee of Kingsway Court Health and Wellbeing Centre at Block 50, a community centre with activities and services.

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR: The three contenders are...

JUDY MURRAY, mother of tennis stars Andy and Jamie, is nominated for her work as talent and performance manager with the Lawn Tennis Association, Judy, 49, of Dunblane, is an inspiration to parents and youngsters alike in the world of tennis.

AILEEN McGLYNN from Crookston is Scotland's golden girl. At the Beijing Paralympics, the 35-year-old partially-sighted cycling star thrilled the whole country when she won two gold medals and set a new world record.

KATHERINE GRAINGER, 33, from Bearsden is Britain's top oarswoman, a three-time Olympic silver medal winner and her team was just pipped at the post for gold at Beijing.

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR: The three contenders are...

DR RABINDER BUTTAR, 46, founder and president of ClinTech International, based in Finnieston, has built up a multi-million pound global business from scratch. Last year, ClinTech, a world leader in clinical research, doubled its revenue with a turnover of £10 million, winning major contracts.

MORAG DOW, 42, is one of the founding partners in Odin Consultants in Glasgow, which has bucked the trend by increasing business by 50% year on year. The civil engineering firm has worked on unusual jobs, including creating a subway station for TV's River City.

MARY GRANT, 39, is the boss of First ScotRail, one of the largest rail franchises in the UK. She has won HSBC Rail Manager of the Year and Passenger Transport Professional of the Year.